22 April 2020 marks the 50th anniversary of Earth Day, an annual event celebrated across the globe to show support for environmental protection.
Celebrations for this year have taken a digital turn due to the coronavirus pandemic sweeping the globe, however this doesn't make the significance of Earth Day any less important.
The United Nations Environment Programme have said in a press release that: ''The pandemic is a stark reminder of the vulnerability of humans and the planet in the face of global scale threats. Unchecked damage to our environment must be addressed.''
In fact the United Nations Secretary-General, António Guterres commented in his response to the socio-economic impacts of COVID-19: ''Had we been further advanced in meeting the Sustainable Development Goals and the Paris Agreement on Climate Change, we could better face this challenge.''
Earth Day itself first took place in 1970 where over 20 million people around the world took to the streets to protest the environmental crisis, angered by the pollution of rivers, oil spills and smog. This movement was the largest civic event of its time and we should all be thankful for it as it compelled governments worldwide to take actions. Protests made on Earth Day spurred momentum and support for the passing of environmental laws and the establishment of environmental agencies. Marking Earth Day every year has shown how much can be achieved when people work together to demand change.
This years Earth Day also marks the anniversary of the signing of the Paris Agreement on climate change which was formally adopted by the UN in 2016.
According to the United Nations Environment Programme's (UNEP) Emissions Gap Report 2019, by the end of this year, global CO2 emissions need to have dropped by 7.6% and continue to fall by that amount year on year, in order for us to keep global heating under 1.5oC.
Unfortunately we still have a long way to go to address the climate emergency and protect our environment, so now more than ever before it is important to mark Earth Day and take responsible action wherever you are to mark this important milestone.
President of the Earth Day network, Kathleen Rogers said: ''Amid the recent outbreak, we encourage people to rise up but to do so safely and responsibly – in many cases, that means using our voices to drive action online rather than in person.''
So this Earth Day there is still lots of ways to mark the occasion and show your support.
Earthday.org are streaming live events and discussions throughout the day, and have many suggestions for actions you can do to take part wherever you are.
A new Earth Challenge 2020 app has also been launched to help engage millions of people across the world while measuring important data such as air quality and plastic pollution, right where you are.
We may be in lockdown this Earth Day, but don't let that stop us from giving it the 50th celebrations (in a socially distanced manner) this iconic movement rightly deserves.
